Combined incandescent lamp and flasher device and method of manufacture thereof



Dec. 28, 1937.

J SCHMIDINGER COMBINED INCANDESGENT LAMP AND FLASHER DEVICE AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE THEREOF Original Filed April 14, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 28, 1937. .1. SCHMIDINGER 2,103,278

v COMBINED'INCANDESCENT LAMP AND FLASHER DEVICE AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE THEREOF Original Filed April 14, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR JOSEPH SCHM/D/NGER Fa/flai ing 74.4.1?

ATTORNEYS Patented Dee. v 28, 1937 UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE Joseph Schmidinger, New York, N. Y. I

Application April 14, 1936, Serial No. 74,249 Renewed June 25, 1937 7 Claims.

The present invention relates to devices for flashing incandescent lamps and comprises an incandescent lamp with an improved construction of flasher device therefor mounted on the base of the lamp and operatively connected with the lamp filament. The invention includes also a novel and simplified method of constructing and assembling the flasher unit upon the lamp base.

The device of the present invention is of the type disclosed and claimed in United StatesPatent No. 1,998,823 dated April 23; 1935 issued on the joint application of the applicant and C. C. Bohner. The present device, while operating on the same general principles as does the patented device, diifers substantially therefrom in construction and in assembly; the present device comprising fewer, simpler and more rugged parts that may be readily assembled without the use of skilled labor.

For an understanding of the novel features of the invention reference may be had to the accompanying drawings of which:

Fig. l is a horizontal sectional view of a combined lamp and flasher embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is'a vertical sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view on an enlarged scale illustrating one method of welding the armature and wire anchoring means to the permanent magnet;

Fig. 4 illustrates an alternative form of wire anchoring means; and

Figs. 5 and 6 are views illustrating further steps in the assembling of the device.

As shown in Figs. 1v and 2, the improved combined lamp and flasher includes an annular container 2 mounted on the base 4 of a lamp bulb 6, a permanent magnet 8 within the container 2, an armature l0 co-operating with the magnet and carrying a contact I2 positioned to engage a fixed contact l4 when the armature is in attracted position, and an expansible resistance wire l6 connected to the movable end of the armature and mechanically preventing, when cold, movement of the armature to contact closing position. Contact I4 is electrically connected with the filament N3 of the lamp and with the other end of resistance It, the contact being end of the armature. A bead 22 of glass or other suitable insulating material is fused about the wire 5 and serves in conjunction with an arm 24 which may be an extension of the armature ID, as an anchoring means for the wire Hi. The end-of arm 24 is forked and the wire l6 passes through the fork and is insulated from the sides thereof by the bead 22 which by engagement with the far surface of the forked end of the arm 24 applies the proper tension to the stretch of wire I6 between the arm andthe movable end of the armature. Wire l6 beyond the bead 24 is looped around the bulb 6 within the container 2 and is welded at its end to the exposed end of the fllament lead 20. An insulating sheet 26, of paper or the like, covers the upper surface of the magnet and serves to insulate the wire l6 from the magnet. Tongues 21, cut in the sheet 26, insure proper positioning of the wire l6 thereon.

In operation, when a source of electromotive force is applied to the terminal 28 of the lamp, which is connected by the usual lead 29 with the filament l 8, and the walls of the base are grounded, current flows from terminal 28 through the filament l8, wire l6, armature l0, magnet 8 to the container 2 and grounded wall of the base 4; the magnet, container and base all being at substantially the same potential.- This current because of the inclusion in the circuit of the resistance afforded by wire I5, is insufiicient to bring filament l8 to incandescence. The current will, however, heat wire I6 and cause it to expand sufliciently to permit the armature ID to move to contact closing position under the influence of the resilient tail portion 2|. Upon closure of contacts l2 and [4, wire [6 is shunted from the circuit and begins to cool and contract. During shunting of wire I 6, the lamp burns brightly with normal current passing through the filament. The initial movement of armature l0, upon contraction of wire I6, is substantially longitudinal and is accompanied by a buckling of the tail portion 2| and a Wiping of contact I2-upon contact l4. When the tension of the wire becomes sufflcient to overcome the attraction of the magnet upon the armature and the spring action of the armature tail, the armature springs out into the retracted position illustrated in Fig. 1 and, so long as the potential difierence is applied, the cycle of operations is..repeated with alternate dimming and lighting of the lamp.

The above described construction lends itself to relatively simple assembly and adjustment. In Figs. 3 to 6 inclusive, the essential steps in the 1 construction and assemblypf the device are illustrated. As shown in Fig. 3, the armature tail is first welded to the magnet and the end of the armature, comprising arm Ed is bent around the welding tool into .the upright position indicated in Fig. 5.. Instead of an anchoring arm formed integrally with the armature, a separate anchorage, formed, for example of nickel wire, could be employed. Such an arrangement is illustrated in Fig. 4. In this case the. armature is first welded to the magnet. A nickel wire 2 5a having a loop at one end is then Welded to the magnet and the wire it having the bead 22 fused thereon is threaded through the loop. Similarly, arm 2%, instead of being forked could be provided with an aperture through which the beaded wire is threaded.

After the armature and anchoring means are secured to the magnet, the wire it, upon which bead 22 has been fused is passed through the fork or aperture and its end welded to the free end of the armature, as shown in Fig. 5. The magnet and armature assembly is then dropped into the annular container 2 and firmly clamped therein by means of tongues at which comprise metal from the lower wall of the container; the magnet being cut away at opposite ends of a diameter to receive the tongues 3d and to provide clearance for the prongs 32 of the lamp base t.

The free end of wire it? is now welded to the exposed end of the filament lead 20, the (iontact it having previously been welded to the lead. The insulating sleeve or sheet 26 is then slid over the base of the lamp and the lamp turned in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 6, and inserted into the magnet and container assembly. The turning of the lamp brings the untensioned portion of wire i8 into position upon the insulator 26 and the operator merely slips the wire under the tongues El after the lamp is in position.' 6011-.

tainer 2 is now welded to the base, current is sent through the device and the tension of wire 56 adjusted by bending of the anchoring arm 2%. A suitable cover it, as for example one of .relatively thin and springy material which is split on one side so as to open and clear the bulb, is slipped over the container 2 and its parts welded together and to thecontainer so as to enclose the flasher mechanism.

From the above description it will be apparent that the present device difiers from the device of the aforementioned patent in various important respects. An important feature of the invention which results in a simplification both of the construction and of assembly of the device and which improves the operation thereof, is the mounting of the armature and of the wire anchoring means upon the magnet. This feature permits the wire magnet and armature to be assembled externally of the container and inserted therein as a unit. Also, it increases the magnetic pull of the magnet upon the armature by providing a magnetic circuit which, when the armature is in retracted position, is open at one pointonly.

The mounting of the wire anchoring means upon the magnet provides a means of ready adjustment of the tension of the wire after assembly of the parts and prior to the sealing on of the cover. The insulated sheet upon the magnet with the cut out spacing tongues thereon provides an inexpensive and efiective means for insulating the wire from the magnet. Furthermore, it will be apparent that the invention provides a method of assembly suitable for practice by relatively une skilled labor.

The following is claimed:

1. A combined incandescent lamp and flasher device comprising in combination a lamp, having a filament and a base, an annular container mounted on said base, a permanent magnet within the container, an armature having one end secured to said magnet, an expansible wire having one end secured to the movable end of said armature, a contact carried by said armature, a

fixed contact electrically connected to one end of said filament and positioned to be engaged by said first mentioned contact when the armature is in attracted position, an expansible resistance wire having one end secured to the movable end of said armature and its other end electrically connected with said fixed contact, and insulated anchoring means for applying a tension to a portion of said wire whereby said wire when cold mechanically prevents movement of the armature to contact closing position.

2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein-said armature, remote from the movable end thereof, has a relatively resilient portion biasing the armature to attracted position and wherein said wire upon contraction exerts a substantially longitudinal pull upon said armature,

whereby upon cooling of said wire there is a buckling of said resilient portion of the armature and a wiping action of said armature carried contact upon said fixed contact prior to a snap action movement of the armature to retracted position.

3. The combination with a lamp having an incandescent filament, a bulb and a base, of a flasher device therefor comprising an annular container mounted on said base, a permanent magnet within said container, an armature mounted on said magnet and co-operating therewith, a pair of contacts, one carried by said armature and the other electrically connected with one end of said lamp filament and positioned to be engaged by the armature carried contact when the armature is in attracted position, an expansible resistance wire electrically connected across said contacts and having one end secured to the movable end of said armature, and anchoring means secured to said magnet for tensioning said wire whereby said wire, when cold, mechanicah lyprevents movement of said armature to contact closing position.

4. The combination according to claim 3 wherein said anchoring means comprises an arm integral with said armature and bendable for adjustment of the tension of the wire.

5. The combination with a lamp having an incandescent filament, a bulb and a base, of a flasher device therefor comprising an annular container mounted on the base of the lamp, a

permanent magnet clamped within said con tainer, an armature having one end mounted on said magnet, an expansible resistance wire havin one end secured to the movable end of said armature and its other end electrically connected with the lamp filament, a fusible bead upon said wire, means mounted on said magnet and cooperating with said bead for applying a tension to said wire in a direction tending to move the armature into retracted position and means controlled by said armature for shunting said wire.

,6. In a device of the type described-the combination comprising a lamp havinga filament and base, an annular container mounted on said base, a permanent magnet within said container,

an armature having one end secured to said'magnet, an expansible wire having one end connected to the movable end of said armature and its other end electrically connected 'with the lamp filament, said wire having one portion thereof under tension to cause, upon contraction, an opening movement of said armature, and having a relatively extended portion encircling the lamp base within the container, an insulating sheet upon said magnet for insulating the magnet from said wire, and means controlled by said armature for shunting said wire when the armature is in attracted position 7. The method of manufacturing and assembling'a combined'incandescent lamp and flasher device therefor comprising welding an end oi a contact carrying armature and an anchoring arm to. a permanent magnet, fusing an insulating head to an expansible resistance wire and welding one end of the wire to the movable end of the armature, anchoring the wire to the anchoring arm by engagement with the insulating bead, welding the other end of the wire to a conducting lead of an incandescent lamp and clamping the magnet and parts carried thereby within an annular container, inserting an insulating ,sleeve about the base of the lamp and turning the lamp to wind a length'of the wire about the lamp base, inserting the base into the container and finally welding the container to the lamp base.

JOSEPH SCHMIDINGER. 

